#20. PRECIOUSNESS/VALUE (Reflection While Painting “Buon Appetito!”)
Painting—Tomatoes
Reflection: PRECIOUSNESS/VALUE
Art has value, and value isn’t always financial. Just as it is counterintuitive to put a price on human life, it can be the same with art. Outsiders don’t really know what’s gone into a piece’s actualization—how much of the artist, him/herself, and how many hours of skill development and dedication. Art’s value can be unquantifiable, but the market demands to know and set a price. What does the market take into account? Training, experience, reputations, originality, popularity, marketing buzz, or trends. Much rests on possessing the right style at the right time for the right audience. Talent and hard work might have little influence. Those who get noticed and are in high demand might have the least to offer. We’ve seen this in the entertainment and other (trend-setting) businesses. Art that is precious to some might not be to others. Over time, art accrues sentimental and commercial value (that can be quite distinct from each other). It becomes part of our homescape, and gets passed from generation to generation. Many a time, art is able to be reproduced and gain mileage. One piece volumized has more worth than could ever be imagined. Sometimes, artists have the tools and ingenuity (or back-up team) to make this happen. Most of the time, they don’t. Alas, great art is usually recognized and acknowledged long after its creator is around to enjoy it.
